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Newbie Training Program
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My local YMCA triathlon club is revamping our program for first timers this year and I'm looking for any suggestions to improve the program.

We are negotiating a reduced entry fee to a fun local sprint (http://www.patgriskustri.com/sprint-race/) and for one fee can join the tri club and get entry to the race.

We are also designing a 13 week training plan that takes someone who has done a 5k before and gets them across the finish line. They will be able to do every workout with the group if they want. It will include outside bikes rides, spinning classes, pool swims, open water, runs, and strength. We are also doing a couple clinics on things like transitions, changing flats, etc., to try to get them as many skills as possible.

This is all in addition to our normal tri club stuff (can order team kit, lots of other group workouts, swag, group FB page, social activities, etc.).

Our club has always made it a goal to help train new people but we have never formalized it like this before. I'd love to hear people's ideas for things that worked well or didn't work well with newbie programs they have seen.

Thanks!

--Adam
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Re: Newbie Training Program [adamsimonsen] [ In reply to ]
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That's awesome! My local tri club had a mentorship program. Really informal, 10 mentees for each mentor, just someone to send an email to our text about a question. We forget all the little things we pick up along the way (e.g., race belts vs. using the pins for a race bib). Plus the mentor becomes someone who keeps the mentee in the club after the person's first race.
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Re: Newbie Training Program [avogler4] [ In reply to ]
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I like that idea. Thanks!!!
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Re: Newbie Training Program [avogler4] [ In reply to ]
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avogler4 wrote:
That's awesome! My local tri club had a mentorship program. Really informal, 10 mentees for each mentor, just someone to send an email to our text about a question. We forget all the little things we pick up along the way (e.g., race belts vs. using the pins for a race bib). Plus the mentor becomes someone who keeps the mentee in the club after the person's first race.

Neat idea. Your club must be very big to have that many new people that want to join?

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Re: Newbie Training Program [Joshawa] [ In reply to ]
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Whether we end up with 5 or 45 I think we can make it a success to get new people into the sport!!!
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Re: Newbie Training Program [adamsimonsen] [ In reply to ]
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adamsimonsen wrote:
Whether we end up with 5 or 45 I think we can make it a success to get new people into the sport!!!

I like it Adam, and im out there recruiting!

http://www.PatGriskusTri.com USAT Certified Race Director
2024 Races: USAT State of CT Age Group Championship/State of CT HS Champs/ CT Club Championship - Sat June 15th (Oly/Du/Sprint) Hopkins Vineyard Tri at Lake Waramaug Saturday July 13th http://www.HopkinsVineyardTri.com
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Re: Newbie Training Program [adamsimonsen] [ In reply to ]
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adamsimonsen wrote:
Whether we end up with 5 or 45 I think we can make it a success to get new people into the sport!!!

How to you usually go about getting people into the sport? Most people I know that run/bike are scared to get into triathlons because of the swim.

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Re: Newbie Training Program [Joshawa] [ In reply to ]
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Joshawa wrote:
adamsimonsen wrote:
Whether we end up with 5 or 45 I think we can make it a success to get new people into the sport!!!


How to you usually go about getting people into the sport? Most people I know that run/bike are scared to get into triathlons because of the swim.

I think adam may have started with some of the open water swim clinics the pat griskus tri staff puts on in the early summer. that has helped plenty of people over that swim hurdle across the years.
i'm planning on talking with high school athletic directors in the area to hopefully get some interest from cross country and swim team members, they need
to do something to stay in shape over the summer right?

http://www.PatGriskusTri.com USAT Certified Race Director
2024 Races: USAT State of CT Age Group Championship/State of CT HS Champs/ CT Club Championship - Sat June 15th (Oly/Du/Sprint) Hopkins Vineyard Tri at Lake Waramaug Saturday July 13th http://www.HopkinsVineyardTri.com
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Re: Newbie Training Program [Joshawa] [ In reply to ]
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That's the beauty of a YMCA affiliated program. We have access to pool and lifeguards. We will run beginner swim clinics for both pool swims and open water. We also run a "mock tri" that is basically a timed swim/bike/run sprint workout focused on the newbies. It lets people have their first open water swim race freak out in a way more relaxed environment.
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Re: Newbie Training Program [Twilkas] [ In reply to ]
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Twilkas wrote:

i'm planning on talking with high school athletic directors in the area to hopefully get some interest from cross country and swim team members, they need
to do something to stay in shape over the summer right?

I like that idea! The trick is sometimes convincing the coaches that a little cross training is good for them...
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Re: Newbie Training Program [adamsimonsen] [ In reply to ]
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I work with a swim club and masters club in my area and I bring a lot of the average swim team swimmers to the sport of triathlon where they can be elite triathlon swimmers without even thinking about it. You will never win a triathlon in the water but IMO it is way easier to teach a swimmer to cycle and run then it is to teach a runner to swim

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Re: Newbie Training Program [Trifactory] [ In reply to ]
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Trifactory wrote:
I work with a swim club and masters club in my area and I bring a lot of the average swim team swimmers to the sport of triathlon where they can be elite triathlon swimmers without even thinking about it. You will never win a triathlon in the water but IMO it is way easier to teach a swimmer to cycle and run then it is to teach a runner to swim
this is precisely why I want to focus more on the swim team members, though some schools around here don't even have a pool. we'll take what we can get though, yes?
thx for chiming in Trifactory

http://www.PatGriskusTri.com USAT Certified Race Director
2024 Races: USAT State of CT Age Group Championship/State of CT HS Champs/ CT Club Championship - Sat June 15th (Oly/Du/Sprint) Hopkins Vineyard Tri at Lake Waramaug Saturday July 13th http://www.HopkinsVineyardTri.com
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